Elkhart father charged in death

-Prosecutor says investigation is continuing.

-Prosecutor says investigation is continuing.

December 14, 2006|YONIKA WILLIS Tribune Staff Writer

ELKHART -- A 21-year-old father has been charged with murder in connection with his son's death. Six-week-old Jaylen Ortiz was in the care of his father, Carlos Ortiz Tacio, on Dec. 7. It was only about an hour after Jaylen's mother, Tarariste Davis, left for work that Ortiz reportedly shook the baby to quiet him. The baby then stopped breathing, Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. Jaylen died at 12:37 p.m. Sunday after being taken off life support at South Bend's Memorial Hospital. An autopsy showed the infant died of severe closed head trauma from an apparent impact injury. With shaken baby syndrome, Hill said, all of the injuries usually are internal, but in Jaylen's case, there appears to have been external injuries. Now Hill's office is examining the case to find out what happened. Ortiz was arrested Dec. 7. Two other children who were at the apartment at the time of the incident don't appear to have any injuries, Hill said, but were taken into protective custody. Murder carries a sentence between 45 and 65 years. Any decisions concerning additional charges against Ortiz will be made at a later date after the investigation is complete, Hill said.Staff writer Yonika Willis: ywillis@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6556